Teens facing felony charges in break-in

July 17, 2003|By Steve Zucker News-Review Staff Writer

A pair of Harbor Springs teens who started their summer by blissfully wandering across the country by bus are now sitting in the Emmet County Jail on felony charges after they allegedly broke into a Petoskey home in broad daylight earlier this week.

Nicholas James Roznowski, 17, and Robert Bradley Cartford, 18, are each facing one count of second-degree home invasion, a 15-year felony. Roznowski also faces one count of resisting and obstructing a police officer, a two-year felony; while Cartford faces two counts of the same charge.

A third suspect, a 15-year-old Petoskey area boy, was released to the custody of his parents pending probate court action.

The charges stem from a break-in that took place at 804 Grove St. Tuesday. A small army of officers descended on the home when a neighbor reported seeing three teens breaking into a basement window.

Roznowski and Cartford were arraigned on the charges in Emmet County's 90th District Court Wednesday. Judge Richard W. May set bond for each at $300,000 cash or surety.

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At the time of their arrest, both teens had outstanding probate court warrants for failure to appear on probation violation charges.

When Judge May asked Cartford about the outstanding warrant and why he hadn't appeared for the previous court hearing, Cartford shrugged and said, "because I didn't want to."

According to a Petoskey Department of Public Safety affidavit filed in the cases, the teens told police they had been out of the area for several weeks traveling around the country by bus.

They returned only about a week and a half ago to attend Blissfest. Police said the teens told them they had been dropped off at the home, the home of Roznowski's grandmother, Bonnie Crampton. Roznowski at one time had lived at the home and the teen said that some of his belongings were still there.

Police said the teens told them they broke into the house through a basement window so that Roznowski could get a change of clothes. They then decided to hang-out for a while, making themselves a snack of crab legs and turning on the television.

According to the court documents, the teens told police that when they saw officers arrive on the scene, somebody yelled and they hid.

Police said Cartford bolted from the house and failed to stop when ordered to do so by officers. Officer were able to arrest Cartford after a short foot chase.

Police said they then went into the home where they found Roznowski hiding in the back of an upstairs closet under some clothes. They then found the 15-year-old hiding in the basement.

Roznowski and Cartford are scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on the charges at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, in 90th District Court.